Method and apparatus for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant. The apparatus includes an absorption tower, a sedimentation pool including slanting boards, a regeneration tower, a gas-liquid separator, a desiccator, a compressor, and a condenser. A rich solution is adapted to flow from a bottom of the absorption tower into the sedimentation pool for stratification. A gas outlet of the gas-liquid separator is in series connection with the desiccator, the compressor, the condenser, and a liquid carbon dioxide storage tank.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of and claims domestic prioritybenefits to U.S. application Ser. No. 14/311,379, filed on Jun. 23,2014, now pending, which is a continuation-in-part of InternationalPatent Application No. PCT/CN2012/083575 with an international filingdate of Oct. 26, 2012, designating the United States, and further claimspriority benefits to Chinese Patent Application No. 201110437154.3 filedDec. 23, 2011. The contents of all of the aforementioned applications,including any intervening amendments thereto, are incorporated herein byreference. Inquiries from the public to applicants or assigneesconcerning this document or the related applications should be directedto: Matthias Scholl P.C., Attn.: Dr. Matthias Scholl Esq., 245 FirstStreet, 18th Floor, Cambridge, Mass. 02142.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the field of emission reduction and resourceutilization of carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant boiler, andmore particularly to a method and an apparatus for collecting carbondioxide from flue gas.

Description of the Related Art

The chemical absorption method is widely applied in industries forcapturing CO₂, and the principle of the chemical absorption method is asfollows: CO₂ in the flue gas reacts with a chemical solvent and isabsorbed thereby. A rich solution of the chemical solvent is acquiredafter absorbing CO₂ to an equilibrium state; then the rich solution isintroduced into a regeneration tower, heated and decomposed forreleasing CO₂ gas and being transformed into a barren solution.Thereafter, the barren solution is recycled to absorb CO₂ from the fluegas. Thus, by circulating an absorbent solution between an absorptiontower and the regeneration tower, CO₂ in the flue gas is captured,separated, and purified. Currently, the chemical absorption method usingan amino alcohol solution to absorb CO₂ is the most widely appliedmethod, which specifically includes: an MEA (monoethanolamine) method,an MDEA, and a mixed organic amines method. In practice, it has beenproved that, although the chemical absorption method using the aminoalcohol solution has the characteristics of fast absorption speed,strong absorption ability, it still has the following defects whenutilized in treating flue gas from power plant: 1) the oxidativedegradation of the amino alcohol affects a long term and stableoperation of the apparatus, and the solution consumption is large; 2)the apparatus is seriously corroded; and 3) MEA generally has aconcentration of less than 20%, and thus the CO₂ absorption rate is low,but the energy consumption in regeneration is high. All these reasonsresult in the high cost of the method for collecting carbon dioxide byusing amino alcohol.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above-described problems, it is one objective of theinvention to provide a method and an apparatus for collecting carbondioxide in power station flue gas. The method is characterized in highcollecting efficiency, low energy consumption, and simple process flow.

To achieve the above objective, in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention, there is provided a method for collecting carbon dioxide fromflue gas of a power plant, the method comprising the following steps:

-   -   1) providing an organic amine and an ionic liquid in a molar        ratio of (1-1.1):1, mixing the organic amine, the ionic liquid,        and water to obtain an aqueous solution of a composite absorbent        having a concentration of between 20 and 40 wt. %;    -   using the aqueous solution of the composite absorbent comprising        the organic amine and the ionic liquid as a CO₂ absorbent,        evenly spraying the aqueous solution of the composite absorbent        into the flue gas from a rear part of a power plant boiler after        dust removal and desulfurization to allow the flue gas flowing        upwardly to fully contact with the downwardly sprayed aqueous        solution of the composite absorbent and to allow CO₂ in the flue        gas to react with the composite absorbent whereby absorbing CO₂.        Principle of the absorption of CO₂ by the composite absorbent is        as follows (A represents the organic amine and B represents the        ionic liquid; the following equations do not represent the        practical reaction process but include physical absorption and        chemical absorption):        A+CO₂→A.CO₂        B+CO₂→B.CO₂    -   controlling a liquid-gas ratio between 5 and 25 L/m³, a reaction        temperature of between 40 and 55° C., and a reaction pressure of        between 0.01 and 10 atm, so that the aqueous solution of the        composite absorbent is capable of fully reacting with CO₂ in the        flue gas at the proper temperature and the pressure, thereby        yielding the solution rich in A.CO₂ and B.CO₂;    -   2) allowing the solution rich in A.CO₂ and B.CO₂ to stand and        clarify under the action of self-aggregation to form different        liquid layers comprising a lower layer being a mixed solution        rich in A.CO₂ and B.CO₂ and an upper layer being the aqueous        solution of the composite absorbent; separating the lower layer        to obtain the mixed solution rich in A.CO₂ and B.CO₂;    -   conducting heat exchange on the separated mixed solution rich in        A.CO₂ and B.CO₂ to enable CO₂ gas dissolved or adsorbed by the        aqueous solution of the composite absorbent to evaporate whereby        yielding a mixed solution rich in A.CO₂ and B.CO₂ after heat        exchange;    -   3) thermally decomposing the mixed solution rich in A.CO₂ and        B.CO₂ after heat exchange to release the chemically bound CO₂,        whereby obtaining high-concentrated CO₂ gas and the aqueous        solution of the composite absorbent, in which, a principal of        the chemical reaction is as follows:        A.CO₂→A+CO₂↑        A+B.CO₂→A.CO₂+B→A+B+CO₂    -   4) returning the aqueous solution of the composite absorbent        obtained in step 3) to step 1) as the CO₂ absorbent for        recycling;    -   5) cooling the high-concentrated CO₂ gas separated from step 3)        to condense water vapor therein;    -   6) conducting gas-liquid separation on the high-concentrated CO₂        gas after the cooling treatment in step 5) to remove a condensed        water therein, whereby yielding CO₂ gas having a purity of        exceeding 99% (highly purified CO₂ gas); and    -   7) desiccating the highly purified CO₂ gas (at a temperature of        110° C. for between 0.1 and 5 min), and compressing and        condensing the highly purified CO₂ gas to transform the highly        purified CO₂ gas into a liquid state, whereby obtaining a        high-concentrated industrial liquid CO₂.

In a class of this embodiment, the ionic liquid in step 1) is selectedfrom the group consisting of a conventional ionic liquid, afunctionalized ionic liquid, a polymeric ionic liquid, and a mixturethereof in an arbitrary ratio.

In a class of this embodiment, the conventional ionic liquid is selectedfrom the group consisting of an imidazole salt, a pyrrole salt, apyridine salt, an ammonium salt, a sulfonate, and a mixture thereof inan arbitrary ratio.

In a class of this embodiment, the functionalized ionic liquid is anionic liquid comprising an amino group.

In a class of this embodiment, the conventional ionic liquid is selectedfrom the group consisting of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazoliumtetrafluoroborate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate,1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide,1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, and a mixture thereofin an arbitrary ratio.

In a class of this embodiment, the ionic liquid comprising an aminogroup is selected from the group consisting of1-(1-amino-propyl)-3-methylimidazolium bromide,1-(3-propylamino)-3-butyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate, and a mixturethereof in an arbitrary ratio.

In a class of this embodiment, the polymeric ionic liquid is selectedfrom the group consisting of poly-1-(4-styryl)-3-methylimidazoliumtetrafluoroborate, poly-1-(4-styryl)-3-methylimidazoliumhexafluorophosphate,poly-1-(4-styryl)-3-methylimidazole-o-phenylmethylsulfonyl imide,poly-1-(4-styryl)-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethylsulfonyl imide,poly-1-(4-styryl)-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, and a mixturethereof in an arbitrary ratio.

In a class of this embodiment, the organic amine in step 1) is selectedfrom the group consisting of ethanolamine, N-methyldiethanolamine, and amixture thereof in an arbitrary ratio.

In a class of this embodiment, the thermal decomposition in step 3) isconducted at the temperature of between 80 and 110° C., a pressure ofbetween 0.01 and 10 atm, and a time of between 1 and 5 min. A.CO₂ isfirstly decomposed, in another word, A.CO₂ is decomposed into A and CO₂,while B.CO₂ is not prone to release CO₂ at such condition. Because CO₂in B.CO₂ is easily captured by A to form A.CO₂ which continues to bedecomposed and release CO₂, so that high-concentrated CO₂ gas and theaqueous solution of the composite absorbent are obtained.

In a class of this embodiment, the cooling treatment in step 5)comprises cooling the separated high-concentrated CO₂ gas to between 20and 35° C. and controlling a cooling time to between 1 and 5 min. Thus,a large amount of water vapor is condensed and returned to adecomposition tower for recycling.

An apparatus for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a powerplant according to the above method, the apparatus comprises: anabsorption tower, a sedimentation pool comprising slanting boards, aregeneration tower, a gas-liquid separator, a desiccator, a compressor,and a condenser. A rich solution flows from a bottom of the absorptiontower into the sedimentation pool comprising the slanting boards forstratification. A gas outlet of the gas-liquid separator is in seriesconnection with the desiccator, the compressor, the condenser, and aliquid carbon dioxide storage tank, respectively.

A bottom flow outlet of the sedimentation pool comprising the slantingboards is connected to a first medium (a mixed condensed liquid) inletof a second heat exchanger (for conducting a first heating) via a pipewhere a rich solution pump is disposed. A supernatant overflow of thesedimentation pool comprising the slanting boards is connected to aninlet of a circulating absorption solution storage tank via a pipe. Anoutlet of the circulating absorption solution storage tank is connectedto a spray pipe of a spray layer in the absorption tower via a pipewhere an absorption solution circulating pump is disposed.

A first medium (the mixed condensed liquid) outlet of the second heatexchanger is connected to a first medium (the mixed condensed liquid)inlet of a first heat exchanger (for conducting a second heating) via apipe. A first medium outlet of the first heat exchanger is connected toan inlet disposed on an upper part of the regeneration tower via a pipe.A gas outlet disposed on a top of the second heat exchanger is connectedto a pipe connecting the first heat exchanger and a cooler. A gas outletdisposed on an upper part of the regeneration tower is connected to asecond medium (gas, heating the first medium) inlet of the first heatexchanger via a pipe. A second medium outlet of the first heat exchangeris connected to an inlet of the cooler via a pipe. An outlet of thecooler is connected to an inlet of the gas-liquid separator via a pipe.

A liquid outlet disposed on a lower part of the regeneration tower isconnected to a second medium inlet of the second heat exchanger via apipe where a lean solution pump is disposed. A second medium outlet ofthe second heat exchanger is connected to the inlet of the circulatingabsorption solution storage tank via a pipe where a filter is disposed.A condensate overflow of the gas-liquid separator is connected to theinlet of the circulating absorption solution storage tank via a pipe. Asolution storage tank for storing the aqueous solution of the compositeabsorbent is connected to the inlet of the circulating absorptionsolution storage tank via a pipe where a solution pump is disposed.

In a class of this embodiment, the absorption tower is a pneumaticbubbling tower. A sieve plate, a pneumatic bubbling layer, a fillerlayer, and a demister are respectively arranged bottom up in theabsorption tower between a flue gas inlet arranged a lower part of theabsorption tower and a flue gas outlet arranged on a top of theabsorption tower.

In a class of this embodiment, the absorption tower is further providedwith a spray layer, and the spray layer is provided with between 2 and 4spray pipes. A plurality of nozzles are disposed on each spray pipe. Thesieve plate comprises circular through-holes, and an area ratio of thecircular through-holes and the sieve plate is between 30 and 40%. Thedemister comprises: an upper filter screen, a lower filter screen, and aspray unit disposed therebetween.

Advantages according to embodiments of the invention are summarized asfollows.

1. The aqueous solution of the composite absorbent comprises the organicamine and the ionic liquid, and so the CO₂ removal rate is improved by10% in contrast to the organic amine method. Both the two components canabsorb or adsorb carbon dioxide, and the absorbed or adsorbed carbondioxide can be released quickly and completely through the transferenceand decomposition in the regeneration tower. Thus, the method is highlyefficient in the collection of carbon dioxide.

2. The products from the reaction of the aqueous solution of thecomposite absorbent and the flue gas are prone to aggregate to form aliquid layer different from water. The liquid layer rich in carbondioxide is extracted and transported into the regeneration tower,thereby partly preventing the water from entering the regenerationtower, and greatly saving the energy consumption.

3. Passing through the second heat exchanger (lean-rich solution heatexchanger), part of carbon dioxide dissolved or adsorbed in the richsolution is released by heating, so the total weight of the richsolution entering the regeneration tower is reduced, thereby saving theenergy consumption. Meanwhile, the low temperature rich solution fromthe absorption tower is heated respectively by the high temperature leansolution from the bottom of the regeneration tower and by the hightemperature carbon dioxide from the top of the regeneration tower,thereby increasing the temperature of the rich solution and saving theenergy consumption. Furthermore, the high temperature carbon dioxidefrom the top of the regeneration tower exchanges heat with the lowtemperature rich solution, thereby reducing the consumption of thecooling water in the cooler and saving the energy consumption.

4. The method has a simple process flow, and the involved devices havelow costs. The invention solves the longstanding problems resulting fromorganic amines method, such as serious corrosion of the devices, highenergy consumption, and high material consumption.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described hereinbelow with reference to accompanyingdrawings, in which the sole FIGURE is a schematic diagram of anapparatus for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant.

In the drawings, the following reference numbers are used: 1—Absorptiontower, 2—Spray layer, 3—Filler layer, 4—Pneumatic bubbling layer,5—Sieve plate, 6—Flue gas inlet, 7—Sedimentation pool comprisingslanting boards, 8—Rich solution pump, 9—Circulating pump,10—Circulating absorption solution storage tank, 11—Solution pump,12—Solution storage tank, 13—Lean solution pump, 14—Reboiler, 15—Liquidcarbon dioxide storage tank, 16—Condenser, 17—Compressor, 18—Desiccator,19—Gas-liquid separator, 20—Cooler, 21—First heat exchanger,22—Regeneration tower, 23—Second heat exchanger (lean-rich solution heatexchanger), 24—Filter, 25—Nozzle, 26—Demister, 27—Flue gas outlet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

For further illustrating the invention, experiments detailing a methodand an apparatus for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a powerplant are described below. It should be noted that the followingexamples are intended to describe and not to limit the invention.

Example 1

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant,the method comprises the following steps:

1) An organic amine and an ionic liquid in a molar ratio of 1.01:1 arecollected. The organic amine, the ionic liquid, and water are mixed toobtain an aqueous solution of a composite absorbent having aconcentration of 20 wt. %.

The ionic liquid is 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate of aconventional ionic liquid.

The organic amine is ethanolamine (MEA).

The aqueous solution of the composite absorbent comprising the organicamine and the ionic liquid is used as a CO₂ absorbent. The aqueoussolution of the composite absorbent is evenly sprayed into the flue gasfrom a rear part of a power plant boiler after dust removal anddesulfurization, so that the flue gas flowing upwardly fully contactswith the downwardly sprayed aqueous solution of the composite absorbentto allow CO₂ in the flue gas to react with the composite absorbent andto be absorbed.

A liquid-gas ratio (the liquid herein means the aqueous solution of thecomposite absorbent, and the gas herein means the flue gas) iscontrolled at 20 L/m³. A temperature of the reaction between CO₂ in theflue gas and the aqueous solution of the composite absorbent iscontrolled at 50° C., and a pressure at an inlet of the absorption toweris controlled at 1.2 atm. Thus, the aqueous solution of the compositeabsorbent is able to fully react with CO₂ in the flue gas at the propertemperature and pressure, and a solution rich in A.CO₂ and B.CO₂ isyielded, in which, A represents the organic amine and B represents thefunctionalized ionic liquid.

2) Matters of A.CO₂ and B.CO₂ after absorbing CO₂ are self-aggregated,and the solution rich in A.CO₂ and B.CO₂ is stilled and clarified toform different liquid layers. A lower layer is a mixed solution rich inA.CO₂ and B.CO₂ and an upper layer is the aqueous solution of thecomposite absorbent. Thereafter, the lower layer of the mixed solutionrich in A.CO₂ and B.CO₂ is separated.

3) Thermal decomposition is conducted on the separated mixed solutionrich in A.CO₂ and B.CO₂. A temperature of the thermal decomposition iscontrolled at 100° C., a pressure of an outlet of a regeneration toweris controlled at 0.3 atm, and a heating time is controlled at 2 min.A.CO₂ is firstly decomposed, in another word, A.CO₂ is decomposed into Aand CO₂, while B.CO₂ is not prone to release CO₂ at such condition.Because CO₂ in B.CO₂ is easily captured by A to form A.CO₂ whichcontinues to be decomposed and release CO₂, so that high-concentratedCO₂ gas and the aqueous solution of the composite absorbent areobtained.

4) The aqueous solution of the composite absorbent obtained in step 3)is returned to step 1) as the CO₂ absorbent for recycling.

5) The high-concentrated CO₂ gas separated from step 3) is cooled tocondense hot water vapor therein, during which, the high-concentratedCO₂ gas is cooled to a temperature of 30° C., and a cooling time iscontrolled at 1.5 min. Thus, a large amount of water vapor is condensedand returned to a decomposition tower for recycling.

6) The high-concentrated CO₂ gas after the cooling treatment in step 5)is introduced to the gas-liquid separator for gas-liquid separation.Condensed water therein is removed, and CO₂ gas having a purity ofexceeding 99% is obtained.

7) The highly purified CO₂ gas obtained in step 6) is desiccated (at atemperature of 110° C. for between 2 min), compressed by a compressor,and condensed by a condenser to enable a temperature thereof to be 20°C. and a pressure thereof to be 72 atm, and transform the highlypurified CO₂ gas into a liquid state, thereby obtaining ahigh-concentrated industrial liquid CO₂.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.7 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 94.2%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.52×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 27.6%.

As shown in the sole FIGURE, an apparatus for collecting carbon dioxidefrom flue gas of a power plant according to the above method, theapparatus comprises: an absorption tower 1, a sedimentation pool 7comprising slanting boards, a second heat exchanger 23, a first heatexchanger 21, a regeneration tower 22, a gas-liquid separator 19, adesiccator 18, a compressor 17, and a condenser 16.

The absorption tower 1 is a pneumatic bubbling tower. A filler layer isdisposed at an upper part of the absorption tower 1, a pneumaticbubbling layer is disposed at a middle part the absorption tower 1, anda sieve plate is disposed at a lower part of the absorption tower 1. Theregeneration tower 22 is the sieve plate tower.

The sieve plates 5, the pneumatic bubbling layer 4, the filler layer 3,and the demister 26 are respectively arranged bottom up in theabsorption tower 1 between a flue gas inlet 6 arranged the lower part ofthe absorption tower 1 and a flue gas outlet 27 arranged on a top of theabsorption tower 1. The absorption tower 1 is further provided with aspray layer 2, and the spray layer 2 is provided with between 2 and 4spray pipes. Three spray pipes are shown in the sole FIGURE, a firstspray pipe is disposed above the sieve plate 5, a second is disposedabove the pneumatic bubbling layer 4, and a third are disposed above thefiller layer 3. A plurality of nozzles 25 are disposed on each spraypipe. The specific number of the nozzles is determined according to theflow rate, and generally each spray pipe is provided with between 2 and20 nozzles. The sieve plate 5 comprises circular through-holes, and anarea ratio of the circular through-holes and the sieve plate 5 isbetween 30 and 40%. The demister 26 is provided with an upper filterscreen, a lower filter screen, and a spray unit disposed therebetween,so that the composite absorbent drops trapped in the flue gas arecompletely removed.

A rich solution outlet arranged at a bottom of the absorption tower 1 isconnected to an inlet of the sedimentation pool 7 comprising theslanting boards via a pipe, so that the rich solution from the bottom ofthe absorption tower 1 flows into the sedimentation pool 7 comprisingthe slanting boards for stratification. A supernatant in thesedimentation pool 7 comprising the slanting boards is the aqueoussolution of the composite absorbent, and a bottom flow therein isprimarily a mixed aggregated liquid of a product of the compositeabsorbent. A bottom flow outlet of the sedimentation pool 7 comprisingthe slanting boards is connected to a first medium (a mixed aggregatedliquid) inlet of a second heat exchanger 23 (for conducting a firstheating) via a pipe where a rich solution pump 8 is disposed. Asupernatant overflow of the sedimentation pool 7 comprising the slantingboards is connected to an inlet of a circulating absorption solutionstorage tank 10 via a pipe. An outlet of the circulating absorptionsolution storage tank 10 is connected to a spray pipe of a spray layer 2in the absorption tower 1 via a pipe where an absorption solutioncirculating pump 9 is disposed.

A first medium (the mixed aggregated liquid) outlet of the second heatexchanger 23 is connected to a first medium (the mixed aggregatedliquid) inlet of a first heat exchanger 21 (for conducting a secondheating) via a pipe. A first medium (the mixed aggregated liquid) outletof the first heat exchanger 21 is connected to an inlet disposed on anupper part of the regeneration tower 22 via a pipe. A gas outletdisposed on a top of the second heat exchanger 23 is connected to a pipeconnecting the first heat exchanger 21 and a cooler 20. A gas outletdisposed on an upper part of the regeneration tower 22 is connected to asecond medium (gas, heating the first medium) inlet of the first heatexchanger 21 via a pipe. A second medium outlet of the first heatexchanger 21 is connected to an inlet of the cooler 20 via a pipe. Anoutlet of the cooler 20 is connected to an inlet of the gas-liquidseparator 19 via a pipe.

A reboiler 14 matching with the regeneration tower 22 is disposedoutside the bottom of the regeneration tower. An outlet of the reboiler14 is connected to a liquid storage tank arranged at the bottom of theregeneration tower via a pipe. An inlet of the reboiler 14 is connectedto the liquid storage tank at the bottom of the regeneration tower via apipe. A liquid outlet disposed on a lower part of the regeneration tower22 is connected to a second medium inlet of the second heat exchanger 23via a pipe where a lean solution pump 13 is disposed. A second mediumoutlet of the second heat exchanger 23 is connected to the inlet of thecirculating absorption solution storage tank 10 via a pipe where afilter 24 is disposed.

A gas outlet of the gas-liquid separator 19 is in series connection withthe desiccator 18, the compressor 17, the condenser 16, and a liquidcarbon dioxide storage tank 15, respectively. A condensate overflow ofthe gas-liquid separator 19 is connected to the inlet of the circulatingabsorption solution storage tank 10 via a pipe.

A solution storage tank 12 for storing the aqueous solution of thecomposite absorbent is connected to the inlet of the circulatingabsorption solution storage tank 10 via a pipe where a solution pump isdisposed 11 (supplemental aqueous solution of the composite absorbentand water are added to the solution storage tank 12).

The above devices are generally common devices in the field of chemicalindustry, and specific structures thereof will not be repeatedlyillustrated herein.

The sieve plate is arranged above the flue gas inlet in the lower partof the absorption tower for facilitating even distribution of the fluegas and gas-liquid contact. The area ratio of the through holes and thesieve plate is controlled between 20 and 40%. Thus, in one respect,after the upwardly flowing flue gas passes the sieve plate, the flowdistribution thereof becomes more evenly, dead angle of the flue gasflow is effectively eliminated, thereby being beneficial for the fullcontact between the flue gas and the absorbent solution; and in theother respect, under the action of the interactive jet of a pluralitysets of nozzles, a spray coverage on the cross section of the absorptiontower reaches exceeding 300%, so that the carbon dioxide in flue gasfully contacts with and reacts with the absorbent solution, therebybeing absorbed.

The lean-rich solution heat exchangers are designed. The rich solutionoutlet arranged at the sedimentation pool 7 comprising the slantingboards is connected to the inlet arranged on the upper part of theregeneration tower via the rich solution pump, the second (lean-richsolution) heat exchanger, and the first heat exchanger. The leansolution outlet of the regeneration tower is connected to the liquidinlet arranged on the upper part of the circulating absorption solutionstorage tank via the lean solution pump and the second (lean-richsolution) heat exchanger. Thus, exhaust heat of the lean solution in theregeneration tower and the flue gas at the outlet of the regenerationtower are utilized to preheat the rich solution introduced into theregeneration tower. Meanwhile, temperatures of the lean solutiondischarged from the lower part of the regeneration tower and the fluegas discharged from the upper part of the regeneration tower aredecreased, thereby realizing a virtuous circulation of the heat exchangeand saving the heat energy resource.

Working process of the method and the apparatus for collecting flue gasare as follows:

The flue gas from the rear part of the power plant boiler after the dustremoval and desulfurization is introduced into the absorption tower 1via the flue gas inlet 6 arranged at the lower part the absorption tower1. The flue gas flows upwardly and passes the sieve plate 5, thepneumatic bubbling layer 4, and the filler layer 3, respectively.Meanwhile, the aqueous solution of the composite absorbent is sprayeddownwardly from the spray layer 2. The liquid-gas ratio is controlled atbetween 5 and 25 L/m³. A temperature of the reaction between CO₂ in theflue gas and the aqueous solution of the composite absorbent ispreferably controlled at between 40 and 55° C., and a reaction pressureis controlled at between 0.01 and 10 atm. Thus, CO₂ in the flue gasfully contacts with the aqueous solution of the composite absorbent inthe filler layer 3 and the pneumatic bubbling layer 4, and CO₂ arechemical composited or absorbed in the solution.

The flue gas after removal of a large amount of CO₂ continuously flowsupwardly, frog droplets of the absorbent therein are removed by thedemister 26 arranged on the top of the absorption tower 1, and cleanflue gas are directly discharged into the atmosphere. The rich solutionafter CO₂ absorption falls to the bottom of the absorption tower, andflows to the sedimentation pool 7 comprising the slanting boards foraggregation and stratification. A resulting supernatant is a solutioncontaining a small amount of the composite absorbent, and a bottom flowmainly contains aggregated slurry of the product of the compositeabsorbent. The bottom flow in the sedimentation pool comprising theslanting boards is transported by the rich solution pump to be heatedfor the first time in the tube side of the second heat exchanger 23 (thelean-rich solution heat exchanger) and be heated for the second time inthe first heat exchanger 21, and then enters the regeneration tower 22via the inlet arranged on the upper part therein. A partial of dissolvedor absorbed CO₂ is released from the rich solution after being heated bythe second heat exchanger 23 (the lean-rich solution heat exchanger).

The rich solution compositing or absorbing CO₂ is sprayed into theregeneration tower 22, and passes through each sieve plate,respectively. The product of the composite absorbent is heated by theupwardly flowing vapor and decomposed, so that CO₂ is released.Incompletely decomposed slurry of the product of the composite absorbentfalls to the bottom of the regeneration tower, heated by the reboiler 14arranged at the bottom of the regeneration tower to a temperature ofbetween 80 and 110° C., thereby further decomposing high-concentratedCO₂ and completely decomposing the product of the composite absorbent.

The released CO₂ gas together with a large amount of water vapor flowout of the regeneration tower 22 via the gas outlet arranged on theupper part thereof, and enters the first heat exchanger 21, and heat therich solution heated by the second heat exchanger 23 (the lean-richsolution heat exchanger). After the heat exchange, the gas is mixed withthe gas released from the heating by the second heat exchanger 23 (thelean-rich solution heat exchanger) and the mixed gas is introduced tothe cooler 20, where the CO₂ gas is cooled to a temperature between 25and 35° C., and a large amount of water vapor therein is condensed andseparated.

The solution of the composite absorbent decomposed in the regenerationtower 22 is pumped by the lean solution pump 13 and is introduced to thetube side of the second heat exchanger 23 (the lean-rich solution heatexchanger) for releasing the heat energy. The cooled solution of thecomposite absorbent is introduced to the filer 24, where the dissolvedheavy metal or impurities in the reaction in the flue gas produced areremoved. A purified solution of the composite absorbent flows into thecirculating absorption solution storage tank 10. Supplemental compositeabsorbent and process water are added to the solution storage tank 12and are transported to the circulating absorption solution storage tank10 via the solution pump 11. The circulating absorbing solution istransported by the absorption solution circulating pump to the spraylayer 2 in the absorption tower and is sprayed and then absorbed.

The highly purified CO₂ gas after the treatment of the cooler 20 isintroduced to the gas-liquid separator 19. Condensed liquid trapped inthe CO₂ gas are completely separated under the centrifugal action, andthe CO₂ gas having the purity exceeding 99% is acquired. The separatedcondensing liquid flows from the condensate outlet of the gas-liquidseparator 19 into the circulating absorption solution storage tank 10for recycling. The separated highly purified CO₂ is then desiccated bythe desiccator 18, compressed by the compressor 17, and condensed by thecondenser 16 and is transformed into a liquid state. Thehigh-concentrated industrial liquid CO₂ is obtained and finallytransported to the liquid carbon dioxide storage tank 15 for storage.

Example 2

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant,the method comprises the following steps:

1) An organic amine and a functionalized ionic liquid in a molar ratioof 1.1:1 are collected. The organic amine, the functionalized ionicliquid, and water are mixed to obtain an aqueous solution of a compositeabsorbent having a concentration of 40 wt. %.

The functionalized ionic liquid is an ionic liquid comprising an aminogroup and is 1-(1-amino-propyl)-3-methylimidazolium bromide.

The organic amine is N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA).

The aqueous solution of the composite absorbent comprising the organicamine and the ionic liquid is used as a CO₂ absorbent. The aqueoussolution of the composite absorbent is evenly sprayed into the flue gasfrom a rear part of a power plant boiler after dust removal anddesulfurization, so that the flue gas flowing upwardly fully contactswith the downwardly sprayed aqueous solution of the composite absorbentto allow CO₂ in the flue gas to react with the composite absorbent andto be absorbed.

A liquid-gas ratio (the liquid herein means the aqueous solution of thecomposite absorbent, and the gas herein means the flue gas) iscontrolled at 20 L/m³. A temperature of the reaction between CO₂ in theflue gas and the aqueous solution of the composite absorbent iscontrolled at 50° C., and a pressure at an inlet of the absorption toweris controlled at 1.2 atm. Thus, the aqueous solution of the compositeabsorbent is able to fully react with CO₂ in the flue gas at the propertemperature and pressure, and a solution rich in A.CO₂ and B.CO₂ isyielded, in which, A represents the organic amine and B represents thefunctionalized ionic liquid.

2) Matters of A.CO₂ and B.CO₂ after absorbing CO₂ are self-aggregated,and the solution rich in A.CO₂ and B.CO₂ is stilled and clarified toform different liquid layers. A lower layer is a mixed solution rich inA.CO₂ and B.CO₂ and an upper layer is the aqueous solution of thecomposite absorbent. Thereafter, the lower layer of the mixed solutionrich in A.CO₂ and B.CO₂ is separated.

3) Thermal decomposition is conducted on the separated mixed solutionrich in A.CO₂ and B.CO₂. A temperature of the thermal decomposition iscontrolled at 100° C., a pressure of an outlet of a regeneration toweris controlled at 0.3 atm, and a heating time is controlled at 2 min.A.CO₂ is firstly decomposed, in another word, A.CO₂ is decomposed into Aand CO₂, while B.CO₂ is not prone to release CO₂ at such condition.Because CO₂ in B.CO₂ is easily captured by A to form A.CO₂ whichcontinues to be decomposed and release CO₂, so that high-concentratedCO₂ gas and the aqueous solution of the composite absorbent areobtained.

4) The aqueous solution of the composite absorbent obtained in step 3)is returned to step 1) as the CO₂ absorbent for recycling.

5) The high-concentrated CO₂ gas separated from step 3) is cooled tocondense hot water vapor therein, during which, the high-concentratedCO₂ gas is cooled to a temperature of 30° C., and a cooling time iscontrolled at 1.5 min. Thus, a large amount of water vapor is condensedand returned to a decomposition tower for recycling.

6) The high-concentrated CO₂ gas after the cooling treatment in step 5)is introduced to the gas-liquid separator for gas-liquid separation.Condensed water therein is removed, and CO₂ gas having a purity ofexceeding 99% is obtained.

7) The highly purified CO₂ gas obtained in step 6) is desiccated (at atemperature of 110° C. for between 2 min), compressed by a compressor,and condensed by a condenser to enable a temperature thereof to be 20°C. and a pressure thereof to be 72 atm, and transform the highlypurified CO₂ gas into a liquid state, thereby obtaining ahigh-concentrated industrial liquid CO₂.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.4 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 96.7%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.46×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 30.5%.

Example 3

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant,the method comprises the following steps:

1) An organic amine and an ionic liquid in a molar ratio of 1.05:1 arecollected. The organic amine, the ionic liquid, and water are mixed toobtain an aqueous solution of a composite absorbent having aconcentration of 40 wt. %.

The ionic liquid is a polymeric ionic liquid, and the polymeric ionicliquid is poly-1-(4-styryl)-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate.

The organic amine comprises ethanolamine (MEA) andN-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA); and dosages of MEA and MDEA account for ½of a total weight of the organic amine, respectively.

The aqueous solution of the composite absorbent comprising the organicamine and the ionic liquid is used as a CO₂ absorbent. The aqueoussolution of the composite absorbent is evenly sprayed into the flue gasfrom a rear part of a power plant boiler after dust removal anddesulfurization, so that the flue gas flowing upwardly fully contactswith the downwardly sprayed aqueous solution of the composite absorbentto allow CO₂ in the flue gas to react with the composite absorbent andto be absorbed.

A liquid-gas ratio (the liquid herein means the aqueous solution of thecomposite absorbent, and the gas herein means the flue gas) iscontrolled at 20 L/m³. A temperature of the reaction between CO₂ in theflue gas and the aqueous solution of the composite absorbent iscontrolled at 50° C., and a pressure at an inlet of the absorption toweris controlled at 1.2 atm. Thus, the aqueous solution of the compositeabsorbent is able to fully react with CO₂ in the flue gas at the propertemperature and pressure, and a solution rich in A.CO₂ and B.CO₂ isyielded, in which, A represents the organic amine and B represents thefunctionalized ionic liquid.

2) Matters of A.CO₂ and B.CO₂ after absorbing CO₂ are self-aggregated,and the solution rich in A.CO₂ and B.CO₂ is stilled and clarified toform different liquid layers. A lower layer is a mixed solution rich inA.CO₂ and B.CO₂ and an upper layer is the aqueous solution of thecomposite absorbent. Thereafter, the lower layer of the mixed solutionrich in A.CO₂ and B.CO₂ is separated.

3) Thermal decomposition is conducted on the separated mixed solutionrich in A.CO₂ and B.CO₂. A temperature of the thermal decomposition iscontrolled at 100° C., a pressure of an outlet of a regeneration toweris controlled at 0.3 atm, and a heating time is controlled at 2 min.A.CO₂ is firstly decomposed, in another word, A.CO₂ is decomposed into Aand CO₂, while B.CO₂ is not prone to release CO₂ at such condition.Because CO₂ in B.CO₂ is easily captured by A to form A.CO₂ whichcontinues to be decomposed and release CO₂, so that high-concentratedCO₂ gas and the aqueous solution of the composite absorbent areobtained.

4) The aqueous solution of the composite absorbent obtained in step 3)is returned to step 1) as the CO₂ absorbent for recycling.

5) The high-concentrated CO₂ gas separated from step 3) is cooled tocondense hot water vapor therein, during which, the high-concentratedCO₂ gas is cooled to a temperature of 30° C., and a cooling time iscontrolled at 1.5 min. Thus, a large amount of water vapor is condensedand returned to a decomposition tower for recycling.

6) The high-concentrated CO₂ gas after the cooling treatment in step 5)is introduced to the gas-liquid separator for gas-liquid separation.Condensed water therein is removed, and CO₂ gas having a purity ofexceeding 99% is obtained.

7) The highly purified CO₂ gas obtained in step 6) is desiccated (at atemperature of 110° C. for between 2 min), compressed by a compressor,and condensed by a condenser to enable a temperature thereof to be 20°C. and a pressure thereof to be 72 atm, and transform the highlypurified CO₂ gas into a liquid state, thereby obtaining ahigh-concentrated industrial liquid CO₂.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.6 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 95%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.49×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 29.1%.

Example 4

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 1 except that the molar ratio ofthe organic amine and the ionic liquid is 1:1; the organic amine, theionic liquid, and water are mixed and a resulting aqueous solution of acomposite absorbent has a concentration of 30 wt. %.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.7 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 94.2%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.52×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 27.6%.

Example 5

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 1 except that the liquid-gas ratioin step 1) is controlled at 5 L/m³, the temperature of the reactionbetween CO₂ in the flue gas and the aqueous solution of the compositeabsorbent is controlled at 40° C., and the reaction pressure iscontrolled at 0.01 atm.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.7 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 94.2%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.52×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 27.6%.

Example 6

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 1 except that the liquid-gas ratioin step 1) is controlled at 25 L/m³, the temperature of the reactionbetween CO₂ in the flue gas and the aqueous solution of the compositeabsorbent is controlled at 55° C., and the reaction pressure iscontrolled at 10 atm.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.7 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 94.2%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.52×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 27.6%.

Example 7

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 1 except that thermaldecomposition in step 3) is performed at a temperature of 80° C., apressure of 0.01 atm, and a heating time of 1 min.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.7 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 94.2%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.52×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 27.6%.

Example 8

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 1 except that thermaldecomposition in step 3) is performed at a temperature of 110° C., apressure of 10 atm, and a heating time of 5 min.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.7 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 94.2%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.52×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 27.6%.

Example 9

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 1 except that during the coolingtreatment in step 5), the high-concentrated CO₂ gas is cooled to atemperature of 20° C., and a cooling time is controlled at 1 min.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.7 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 94.2%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.52×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 27.6%.

Example 10

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 1 except that during the coolingtreatment in step 5), the high-concentrated CO₂ gas is cooled to atemperature of 35° C., and a cooling time is controlled at 5 min.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.7 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 94.2%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.52×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 27.6%.

Example 11

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 1 except that the desiccationtreatment in step 7) is performed at a temperature of 110° C. and a timeis controlled at 0.1 min.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.7 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 94.2%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.52×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 27.6%.

Example 12

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 1 except that the desiccationtreatment in step 7) is performed at a temperature of 110° C. and a timeis controlled at 5 min.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.7 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 94.2%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.52×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 27.6%.

Example 13

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 1 except that the ionic liquid is1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate of a conventional ionliquid.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.7 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 94.2%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.52×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 27.6%.

Example 14

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 1 except that the ionic liquid is1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide of aconventional ion liquid.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.7 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 94.2%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.52×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 27.6%.

Example 15

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 1 except that the ionic liquid is1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate of a conventional ionliquid.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.7 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 94.2%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.52×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 27.6%.

Example 16

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 1 except that the ionic liquidincludes 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate,1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, and1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate of a conventional ionliquid; and dosages thereof account for ⅓ of a total weight of the ionicliquid, respectively.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.7 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 94.2%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.52×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 27.6%.

Example 17

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 1 except that the ionic liquidincludes a conventional ionic liquid and a functionalized ionic liquid,and dosages thereof account for ½ of a total weight of the ionic liquid,respectively.

The conventional ionic liquid is 1-butyl-3-methylimidazoliumtetrafluoroborate; and the functionalized ionic liquid is1-(1-amino-propyl)-3-methylimidazolium bromide.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.7 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 94.2%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.52×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 27.6%.

Example 18

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 1 except that the ionic liquidincludes: a conventional ionic liquid, a functionalized ionic liquid,and a polymeric ionic liquid; and dosages thereof account for ⅓ of atotal weight of the ionic liquid, respectively.

The conventional ionic liquid is 1-butyl-3-methylimidazoliumtetrafluoroborate; and the functionalized ionic liquid is1-(1-amino-propyl)-3-methylimidazolium bromide; and the polymeric ionicliquid is poly-1-(4-styryl)-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.7 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 94.2%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.52×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 27.6%.

Example 19

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 2 except that the functionalizedionic liquid is 1-(3-propylamino)-3-butyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.4 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 96.7%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.46×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 30.5%.

Example 20

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 2 except that the functionalizedionic liquid includes 1-(1-amino-propyl)-3-methylimidazolium bromide and1-(3-propylamino)-3-butyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate; and dosagesthereof account for ½ of the total weight of the functionalized ionicliquid, respectively.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.4 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 96.7%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.46×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 30.5%.

Example 21

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 3 except that the polymeric ionicliquid is poly-1-(4-styryl)-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.6 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 95%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.49×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 29.1%.

Example 22

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 3 except that the polymeric ionicliquid is poly-1-(4-styryl)-3-methylimidazole-o-phenylmethylsulfonylimide.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.6 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 95%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.49×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 29.1%.

Example 23

A method for collecting carbon dioxide from flue gas of a power plant isbasically the same as that in Example 3 except that the polymeric ionicliquid includes poly-1-(4-styryl)-3-methylimidazoliumtrifluoromethylsulfonyl imide and poly-1-(4-styryl)-3-methylimidazoliumtetrafluoroborate; and dosages thereof account for ½ of a total weightof the polymeric ionic liquid, respectively.

Experiment results are as follows:

A content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the inlet of the absorption tower is12 v. %, and a content of CO₂ in the flue gas at the outlet of theabsorption tower is 0.6 v. %, thus, an absorption efficiency of carbondioxide reaches 95%.

Energy consumption for regeneration after absorption of CO₂ for theconventional MEA is 2.1×10⁷ kJ/h, and the energy consumption forregeneration tested in this experiment is 1.49×10⁷ kJ/h, so that theenergy consumption is decreased by 29.1%.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made without departing from the invention inits broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is tocover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spiritand scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for collecting carbon dioxidefrom flue gas of a power plant, the apparatus comprising: an absorptiontower, a sedimentation pool comprising slanting boards, a regenerationtower, a gas-liquid separator, a desiccator, a compressor, and acondenser; a rich solution flowing from a bottom of the absorption towerinto the sedimentation pool comprising the slanting boards forstratification; a gas outlet of the gas-liquid separator being in seriesconnection with the desiccator, the compressor, the condenser, and aliquid carbon dioxide storage tank, wherein a bottom flow outlet of thesedimentation pool comprising the slanting boards is connected to afirst medium inlet of a second heat exchanger via a pipe where a richsolution pump is disposed; a supernatant overflow of the sedimentationpool comprising the slanting boards is connected to an inlet of acirculating absorption solution storage tank via a pipe; an outlet ofthe circulating absorption solution storage tank is connected to a spraypipe of a spray layer in the absorption tower via a pipe where anabsorption solution circulating pump is disposed; a first medium outletof the second heat exchanger is connected to a first medium inlet of afirst heat exchanger via a pipe; a first medium outlet of the first heatexchanger is connected to an inlet disposed on an upper part of theregeneration tower via a pipe; a gas outlet disposed on a top of thesecond heat exchanger is connected to a pipe connecting the first heatexchanger and a cooler; a gas outlet disposed on an upper part of theregeneration tower is connected to a second medium inlet of the firstheat exchanger via a pipe; a second medium outlet of the first heatexchanger is connected to an inlet of the cooler via a pipe; an outletof the cooler is connected to an inlet of the gas-liquid separator via apipe; and a liquid outlet disposed on a lower part of the regenerationtower is connected to a second medium inlet of the second heat exchangervia a pipe where a lean solution pump is disposed; a second mediumoutlet of the second heat exchanger is connected to the inlet of thecirculating absorption solution storage tank via a pipe where a filteris disposed; a condensate overflow of the gas-liquid separator isconnected to the inlet of the circulating absorption solution storagetank via a pipe; a solution storage tank for storing an aqueous solutionof a composite absorbent is connected to the inlet of the circulatingabsorption solution storage tank via a pipe where a solution pump isdisposed.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absorption tower is apneumatic bubbling tower; a sieve plate, a pneumatic bubbling layer, afiller layer, and a demister are respectively arranged bottom up in theabsorption tower between a flue gas inlet arranged on a lower part ofthe absorption tower and a flue gas outlet arranged on a top of theabsorption tower; the absorption tower is further provided with a spraylayer, and the spray layer is provided with between 2 and 4 spray pipes;a plurality of nozzles are disposed on each spray pipe; the sieve platecomprises circular through-holes, and an area ratio of the circularthrough-holes and the sieve plate is between 30 and 40%; and thedemister comprises: an upper filter screen, a lower filter screen, and aspray unit disposed therebetween.